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the event in beautiful Normandy ever since the last WEG in Kentucky in 2010. I even bought the book French Phrases for Dummies about six months ago and read it cover-to-cover, brushing up on my practically forgotten French. But due to unexpected personal commitments, here I sit in Florida’s sweltering summer heat; no passport, no tickets and no French cuisine and French countryside to enjoy. C’est tragique! Okay, it’s pretty easy to wallow in self-pity, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Funny thing is that I’ve
A Dare to Disappoint
been in touch with other journalists and photographers who are there. Te stress I’m sensing via the phone and cyber- chat about all the logistics and high costs of travel and accommodations makes me wonder if it truly isn’t better to sit at home, bask in air conditioning and watch the coverage online? C’est le plus confortable. When it comes to competing sport horses, disappointment is bound to show its face now and then. Were
expectations just too high? Was it bad luck? Were horse and rider unprepared? Was the competition just too good? Disappointment happens when the outcome is not what we expected in regards to something we are passionate about. Take Germany’s Matthias Rath, for instance. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and interviewing him in Kentucky at the last WEG in 2010. Shortly aſter that, he was handed the world champion dressage horse, the one and only Totilas, to ride and compete for his country. It wasn’t long before he began to perform publicly with his new mount, but worldwide fans weren’t so kind—they were undeniably disappointed. (I can’t even fathom the pressure this 26-year-old was under.) C’était un grand challenge! Most will agree; the pair just needed time. New partnerships at the Grand Prix level don’t develop overnight. Te
way I see it, disappointment can either destroy you or strengthen you. How you deal with it matters. So while Matthias and Totilas quietly went to work, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro from the U.K., the world’s next champions, rose to the surface. What do experts think about these two superstars, Totilas and Valegro, meeting face to face at the WEG? Check out our first feature - it gives tremendous insight into what two top judges think about this “Battle of the Titans.” C’est très intéressant. Whether you own, breed, ride and/or train sport horses (kudos to those who do all of the above!) and regardless
of the discipline, we work hard at Warmbloods Today to present you with a variety of stories, reports and opinions that are both useful, thought-provoking and just plain fun to read. Sometimes it’s a daunting task. I guess one could say that with each issue, I “put myself out there” and dare to disappoint, perhaps similar to Matthias and Totilas. In Matthias’s case, he gets to piaffe and passage in front of millions of fans on a gorgeous black stallion. In my case, I am fortunate to continually meet great equestrians and fabulous horses around our country and even the world. I am fortunate to hear from readers, by phone or email, that a particular article was especially helpful or just plain excellent. And if it’s criticism a reader reports, I do take it seriously and strive to improve. All in all, it’s been a journey of learning that has been anything but a disappointment. Here’s to la joie des chevaux!
Liz Cornell
editor@warmbloodstoday.com
Our Mission: Warmbloods Today is the leading magazine in North America focused on the entire spectrum of Warmblood breeds. It’s a place where people from all aspects of the sport horse community can come together: amateurs, owners, trainers and breeders. Each issue contains interesting, informative and often heart-warming stories of peoples’ experiences with their horses, along with thought- provoking opinions from various professionals and amateurs. We cover all horses from European descent bred for the sports of jumping, dressage, eventing and driving including the Iberian breeds and American Warmbloods.
8 September/October 2014
ublisher’s Welcome
s this issue of Warmbloods Today arrives in mailboxes around North America, Teams USA and Canada will be in the throes of competing at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in France. Secretly, I had been planning to attend
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